BattleStar Galactica - SPOILER WARNING

[Bobblehead]

So, has the fleet split with Galactica left behind?

Will the resistance trust Sharon, or will they think she was the one who sold them out?

How can Baltar sign that death warrant, condemning all those people in order to save his own skin. That is quite the character. If he had been trying to undermine the cylons (like Gaeda) then I may have a bit more sympathy for him. (Although, surrounded by cylons who are going to do it either way, would condemning yourself to a meaningless death (and one cheered by the populous) do anything beyond assuage your conscience?)

The whole suicide bombing thread is very intriguing. Very politically relevant, but not heavy handed.

[Cowperson]

So, has the fleet split with Galactica left behind?

No . . . . When Adm Adama goes to New Caprica, Apollo will be left floating in space with orders to leave within 18 hours to continue the search for Earth with the remaining 2000 people in the fleet.

Now, it seems a predictable plot device that Apollo will lose his "fat ass" and re-grow his balls and charge in to save the day . . . . but that's just a guess.

Will the resistance trust Sharon, or will they think she was the one who sold them out?

I think we'll see Cally lost in the forest/killed off and Galactica Sharon and Tyrol get it on again, back where they started in the mini-series . . . . not so far-fetched when you remember the producers keep warning us we're going to lose a major character or two fairly soon. Sharon will always be distrusted.

How can Baltar sign that death warrant, condemning all those people in order to save his own skin. That is quite the character. If he had been trying to undermine the cylons (like Gaeda) then I may have a bit more sympathy for him. (Although, surrounded by cylons who are going to do it either way, would condemning yourself to a meaningless death (and one cheered by the populous) do anything beyond assuage your conscience?)

Fans of the old 1980 Galactica show have been waiting for the devolution of Baltar into a full blown Cylon collaborator for some time . . . . . when we finally see "Exodus" and the fleet leaves New Caprica to resume the search for Earth, its a fair bet Baltar won't be going with them.

The whole suicide bombing thread is very intriguing. Very politically relevant, but not heavy handed.

Lots of debate on the political relevance on the sci-fi Galactica board . . .

http://mboard.scifi.com/postlist.php...lactica&page=0

Amusingly, Battlestar seems to be ruffling real-life feathers. This columnist at The National Review discusses "New Iraqica" . . . .

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q...TYxMWMzZjE1NmE=

Cowperson

[Shazam]

I can't believe Space actually showed this around the same time as the US. Yay!

[Hakan]

Good episode but I honestly can't wait until they get back in space and start running from the Cylons again. The New Caprica story is already getting old for me and the allusions to present day events I find are too obvious. Good sci-fi always comes back as a social commentary but this is just way too apparent and as a result, the story suffers, imo.

I think it's another bad sign for this show when the Cylons are the far more interesting and intriguing characters than the humans in this early season. The human characters seem to have stalled on development or have fallen into typical catechisms and cliches. Cara is the only one I am actually interested in and that's probably because of her close relationship to the Cylons right now. On Colonel Tigh is also quite good right now too. He is an example of a character that has grown.

The show needs to develop new angles and ennuances for these increasingly tiresome characters. I think they will do so but I hope it doesn't take too long. Otherwise we may just find ourselves rooting for the Cylons.

[Shazam]

This columnist at The National Review discusses "New Iraqica" . . . .

It was an idiotic analysis. He totally missed the point.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Shazam

It was an idiotic analysis. He totally missed the point.

I agree. Why does he jump to the "it is against GWB, therefore it is crap" conclusion?

I can see, and think the episode shows, the struggle on both sides: the debate about whether to suicide bomb or not, and the debate on how to react.

And in the original series Baltar became the leader of the cylons. I have a tough time seeing that progression happening here. Neither side will ever trust Baltar. Perhaps with his Number 6 back in his brain psyche again, and her being opposed to the current cylon activities, he may be useful in helping get off New Caprica.

[Hakan]

Maybe Baltar is a cylon.

Seems like an obvious twist but you could do it so that it was interesting.

Maybe Baltar was not only a sleeper agent but the original humanoid model. Maybe there was a human Baltar who made the humanoid cylon in his image. Lots of places to go with this.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I agree. Why does he jump to the "it is against GWB, therefore it is crap" conclusion?

National Review is generally considered a right wing organ . . . . and apparently a little sensitive.

Actually, if you wanted to make real-life comparisons, the character who enters the fray hopefully believing a forced but benevolent occupation, working with a democratically elected government of the conquered, an occupation that would be greeted with a showering of joyful flowers in the street, the neo-con view of Iraq held by GW Bush, would actually be Caprica Six, the woman who was shot in the forehead by, apparently, Dick Cheney (Doral)!!! Although not a hunting accident.

But, as you said . . . . lots of nuances. They edge that way but go other ways as well. Depending on your real-life political point of view, you could see a lot of things in there that others might not.

In truth, in podcasts the producers have said they are mostly alluding to Vichy France.

Maybe Baltar is a cylon.

That would be too obvious . . . . its also fun to watch the little worm as he squirms to save himself.

What will he do to keep himself alive?

Cowperson

[BlackEleven]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

when we finally see "Exodus" and the fleet leaves New Caprica to resume the search for Earth, its a fair bet Baltar won't be going with them.

I have a feeling he will be going with them. We've seen him claw his way out of sticky situations before -- like explaining how the nuke from his lab went missing. He may be able to explain this to by saying they held a gun to his head and forced him to sign everything or come up with some other explanation with the help of Six (the one is his head).

Obviously, the hate for him is at an all time high now, but I'd wager there are still quite a few more episodes on New Caprica before they leave allowing for time for people's attitudes towards him to change. Some characters will never forgive him though, letting him return to that ambigious bad-guy-good-guy role.

At least this is what I'm hoping for. Baltar is too interesting of a character in the role he's in, imo.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

but I'd wager there are still quite a few more episodes on New Caprica before they leave allowing for time for people's attitudes towards him to change. .

The next two episodes are titled "Exodus" parts one and two . . . . . so I'd say they're leaving fairly quickly.

In the original series, Baltar ends up alone with the Cylons . . . . I think we'll see that. Just a guess.

Now that Canada and the USA are basically in sync, you can knock yourself out on the Sci-Fi Channel page:

http://www.scifi.com/battlestar/

Cowperson

[CaptainCrunch]

If I recall correctly in the original series Baltar ended up in the brig of the galactica then was eventually freed and marooned on a planet. I can see the same scenario here. They tried a little too hard to make him loathsome at the end of last season, and then switched gears to quickly with his original attempt at nobility by having him originally refuse to sign the death warrents.

We know that he's not a Cylon, that would also be too easy and too predictible. But I think we will eventually see a cylon model based on Baltar, who becomes a true representation of the cylon god, call him a prophet for both sides.

It was good to see the presidents former political rival at the end of the episode, I was hoping that he was going to play a major role, and every resistance needs a devil that is willing to stretch things, in fact I could see Tigh getting into a close relationship with him, since Tigh has become a bit of a fanatic.

I agree that Apollo is going to disregard his orders, and rush into the rescue.

One thing that struck me as very strange was that the Galactica and Pegasus retired the more veteran military people (Tigh, Chief, and others), and kept the newbies and inexperienced people on the ships, that too me is strange.

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

One thing that struck me as very strange was that the Galactica and Pegasus retired the more veteran military people (Tigh, Chief, and others), and kept the newbies and inexperienced people on the ships, that too me is strange.

Except Adama, who's the Yelle of space conflicts!

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

One thing that struck me as very strange was that the Galactica and Pegasus retired the more veteran military people (Tigh, Chief, and others), and kept the newbies and inexperienced people on the ships, that too me is strange.

Baltars original order was that anyone who wanted to leave and go to the planet surface could do so. . . . . he didn't allow for any preference to the military keeping their people and is obviously contemptious - and afraid a bit - of Adama.

There's a scene after they leap ahead one year where Tigh says he and Ellen have finally decided to go down to the planet and get settled, obviously one of the last to go after vegetating on the vessel in orbit . . . . so, for the others as well, it was probably a gradual osmosis, trepidation at first then acceptance of minimal danger.

It was good to see the presidents former political rival at the end of the episode, I was hoping that he was going to play a major role, and every resistance needs a devil that is willing to stretch things, in fact I could see Tigh getting into a close relationship with him, since Tigh has become a bit of a fanatic.

Tom Zarek is a convicted terrorist himself. That's why he was locked up on the prison ship. Him disappearing for four months is interesting. They didn't have to say that so maybe there's a reason they did. Was he really locked up by the Cylons or was he helping them? Lots of people speculate he might be a Cylon as well. If Baltar is left behind, Zarek is the VP and technically second in line, ahead of Roslin.

Other interesting plot point . . . . Tyrol thinks Gaeta is a collaborator, rather than the sympathetic helper that he is.

And Cally appears to know Jammer is the one who let her go and also that he's a cop for the Cylons.

It might get ugly when it comes time to be accountable for what you were doing during the occupation.

How is Caprica Six going to like getting shot in the forehead? That had to hurt. And will she have a new rival for the romantic attentions of Baltar (just thought I'd throw that in) once she comes out of the vat as frisky as ever?

Will Kara leave Kasey behind? Will Leoben get suckered in by the hand in hand embrace from a woman who's already killed him five times?

Will Harry do Sally by the end of the movie?

Cowperson

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

How is Caprica Six going to like getting shot in the forehead? That had to hurt. And will she have a new rival for the romantic attentions of Baltar (just thought I'd throw that in) once she comes out of the vat as frisky as ever?

That's who I believe has re-entered Baltar's psyche. She re-appeared (didn't he say something like "You're back") right after the shot in the forehead. That could make him interesting; if he has a sympathetic Cylon guiding him.

[Flame On]

Spoiler spoiler spoiler \/




Baltar, in the BSG magazine which seems to have a lot of spoilers, goes onto the Cylon ships and we see through him, a lot more about the Cylons. The way they live and interact etc. So in a sense he still is left behind.

[CaptainCrunch]

The ugliest story line is how Tigh is going to deal with his wife's liason with the Cylons, he won't care if it was to save his life.

She might just get left behind with Baltar

[Flame On]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The ugliest story line is how Tigh is going to deal with his wife's liason with the Cylons, he won't care if it was to save his life.

She might just get left behind with Baltar

There's no one who's s*** don't stink after this occupation. I think in the end Adama will point that out and get people to move on. Upon listening to the season opener podcast by the producers, that was something they're trying to convey. Who are the good guys here.

[Flame On]

Great episode this weekend. Did everyone see it in one way or another?
highlight to read:
Just can't imagine what Sharon is going to do once she learns her baby is indeed alive.
Can't wait until the rescue mission kicks off next episode. Adama from the preview looks to be in some bother.
I guess the Lucy Lawless cylon character knows everything, wonder what part she'll play.
Boltar is screwed.

[CaptainCrunch]

Great episode, you could almost see Tigh dying a little when his wife came under suspicion.

I liked the fact that they let the preacher cylon take hours before he died.

Interesting that Sharon kept too her word and got the launch keys even after she heard about her baby.

Cowperson sounds like he was right, Apollo is about to go against orders and the Galactica is going to get into big trouble.

This is bar none the best show on T.V., with Jericho closing the gap, and Lost becoming stupid.

[Shazam]

What, a JJ Abrams show going stupid? I've never seen that happen before.